Disneyland Resort celebrated the Year of the Mouse this Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park, Jan. 17 through Feb. 9, 2020. During the 24 days of this multicultural celebration, guests enjoyed exciting live entertainment and musical performances, including “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” and the return of the heartwarming “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” prior to the “World of Color” nighttime spectacular. This unique Lunar New Year celebration came alive with a touch of Disney magic as transformative Asian celebrations dedicate the new year. Guests experienced inspired food, music and entertainment with loved ones as they celebrate the Year of the Mouse together. Lunar New Year, traditionally celebrated within Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, celebrates the celestial journey of the sun and the moon on their journey towards another year. For more information, visit Disneyland.com.
LAS VEGAS HAS CELEBRATED CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT, DÉCOR AND CULINARY OFFERINGS TO RING IN THE YEAR OF THE RAT
Las Vegas has commemorated the Chinese New Year with an array of decadent culinary offerings, breathtaking décor and lively entertainment for visitors throughout January and February. Remembering the significance of the sacred Spring Festival, Las Vegas will extend good fortune and prosperity to all who revel in the destination’s cultural festivities. The annual celebratory dragon display returned for another year at The Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace. The 22-foot-long dragon is not only a great photo opportunity for visitors, but is also a traditional symbol of power, strength and good luck. The decorative display is dressed in 30,000 red and amber LED lights, flickering to give the mythical creature a vibrant look and dynamic feel. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens celebrates the Year of the Rat with a captivating Lunar New Year display open from Saturday, January 11 through Saturday, March 7. Designed to bring prosperity and good fortune to the 20,000 visitors who visit daily, the gardens radiate hues of gold and red with picture-perfect botanical creations made from flowers, seeds, silks and plants. To commemorate the Year of the Rat, The Venetian and The Palazzo’s horticulture team consulted a feng shui master to transform the waterfall atrium with an installation of a colossal 2,000-pound golden rodent sculpture, on display beginning Wednesday, January 15. The featured sculpture stands 18 feet tall and will be surrounded by green gardens brightly blooming with red and orange bromeliads, red calandiva, golden yellow chrysanthemums and red and yellow orchids, shipped from around the country, including citrus and lucky bamboo from Florida. Additionally, nine smaller versions of the rat will be placed throughout the waterfall atrium and the resorts’ lobbies. MGM Grand transformed into a Lunar New Year spectacle with vibrant displays of eye-catching floral décor and playful panda bears surrounding the resort’s iconic lion. The displays will abound with over 4,000 live plants. On display at Wynn Las Vegasstarting Wednesday, January 15, are two eight-foot golden dragons that will spread good luck to visitors outside, while inside the resort the Wynn main atrium features spectacular 45-foot long silk dragons hanging above 7,000 vibrant orange, yellow and red mums, begonias and calandivas. Additionally, the resort will be dotted with 60 tangerine trees honoring the traditional gifting of this fruit to others as a wish of good fortune. For more information, visit www.lvcva.comor www.visitlasvegas.com.
CITY IS NATION’S FIRST TO BE AUTISM CERTIFIED
Mesa is officially the first Autism Certified City in the country with close to 4,000 stakeholders in health care, education, hospitality and government trained to better serve people with the sensory disorder. The city was recently certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards and is now able to tap into a new source of visitor dollars to the region. More than 32 million individuals with autism and their families travel each year, according to IBCCES data, while close to $262 billion is spent on autism-related services in the U.S. each year. For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been spearheading autism training for licensed health care professionals and educators around the globe. In order for an entire city to become certified, it must first certify at least 60 businesses, as well as schools and other city departments. For a company or organization to become certified, 80 percent or more of its guest-facing staff must undergo position-specific training. The nearly year-long effort behind the autism certification was launched by the city’s destination marketing organization Visit Mesa, which encouraged businesses to participate in the training in order to meet the needs of travelers with autism. Visit Mesa championed the idea of servicing those living with autism as well as their families from the very beginning stages of planning a vacation, to when they arrive and throughout their stay. Almost 60 businesses and organizations in Mesa and the surrounding area completed autism certification training — including Jake’s Unlimited, AZ Goat Yoga, i.d.e.a. Museum, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Mesa Arts Center, Main Street Bar and Grill and Escape Rooms Mesa.
AMERICAN AIRLINES NAMED KENNETH CHARLES CHIEF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY OFFICER
American Airlines announced that Kenneth Charles has been named the airline’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. In this new role, Charles will lead American’s global inclusion and diversity strategies. This includes establishing the company’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to ensure best practices are implemented across all aspects of American’s people and business processes. “Ken brings a wealth of experience to the team and is a proven leader in creating global inclusion strategies,” said American’s Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “We are on a journey to enhance our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion across American, and Ken will help chart our course to ensure American is an industry leader. Our decision to become more intentional in this area is vital to our global business. Ken will provide a needed and important voice in all of our critical decision-making.” American has taken a number of steps to strengthen its inclusion and diversity practices. These include implementing both computer-based and in-person implicit bias training for all 130,000 team members and creating a specialized team to listen to, resolve and learn from customer feedback. “We have progressed our company’s focus on inclusion and diversity, and we recognize we can and will do even more,” added Parker. “We are committed to building on our diverse and inclusive culture to not only make American a welcoming airline for all customers, but also a great place to work for every team member.”
Multicultural Travel News – News From Vagabond Tours of Ireland, IATA, Jamaica, Kentucky, Buenos Aires, Oaxaca and Bahamas
News Briefs:
- Vagabond Tours of Ireland Helps Connect Guests To Their Ancestral Links
- IATA Launches Gender Diversity Campaign
- Jamaica Re-positioned in the Japanese Travel Market
- African American’s Role in Horse Racing Honored in New Exhibits and Experiences
- International Tango Festival and World Cup (Mundial de Tango)
- Oaxaca Hosts Historic “Vive Mezcal 2019” International ForumThe Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas Launches Arabic Website
Multicultural Travel News – News From Mexico’s Yucatan State, Natchez, Wild Terrains, Toronto, Puerto Vallarta and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
News Briefs:
- Mexico’s Yucatan State Poised To Be Mexico’s Next “IT” Destination
- Natchez, MS LGTBQ Event Celebrates Inclusion This October
- Wild Terrains Launches New Women-Only Trips to Portugal This Fall
- Tourism Toronto Has Launched New Destination Campaign: Let Yourself In – Campaign Invites Travelers to Go All-in and Share in Toronto Pride Felt Across the City
- Puerto Vallarta to Host First National LGBTQ Media Association International Conference
- Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Debuts New Culinary Offerings for Groups, Launches Six New Chinese, Indian and Vegan Menus
Princess Cruises Announces “Sabor Latino” Theme on Select 7-Day Caribbean Cruises
Princess Cruises has announced a series of Latin-themed cruise itineraries on 7-day Caribbean cruises on two Caribbean Princess sailings in July 2019. The “Sabor Latino” themed cruises promise to deliver the Caribbean cruise experience, tailored to the preferences of the Latin American guest, with late night DJ dance parties, an onboard Spanish-speaking host, shore excursions guided in Spanish, and Latin-inspired cocktails. On the first “Sabor Latino” voyage, Caribbean Princess will sail roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale on July 13, 2019 for an Eastern Caribbean cruise itinerary featuring breathtaking beaches and old world charm, visiting Princess Cays — Princess Cruises’ private island experience in the Bahamas – plus calls in St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Then on July 20, 2019, Caribbean Princess will sail roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale on a Western Caribbean cruise itinerary featuring ancient Mayan ruins, eco-adventures, and gorgeous beaches while calling in Grand Cayman, Roatán, Belize City, and Cozumel. Latin-inspired culinary menu items from Argentine chef Gustavo Schneider paired with special guest speaker Bill Esparza round out the “Sabor Latino” menu. Exclusively on the July 20th voyage, Esparza – a James Beard award-winner, author, and food TV personality – will speak on how Latin American culinary trends have permeated throughout Los Angeles and culinary anecdotes from his time as a professional saxophone player on the road in Latin America. Select Spanish-language films, Latin American television channels, plus Spanish-language magic entertainment from special guest Pablo Pol, Spanish-language stand-up comedy from Mariano Potel, and performances from singer-songwriter Yaire all together provide an impressive entertainment lineup. Over the last few years, Caribbean Princess has been at the forefront of major fleet revitalizations, with many family-oriented features and amenities including breakthrough technology, family accommodations, new dining experiences and entertainment offerings. General information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor or by visiting the company’s website at http://www.princess.com/.
Multicultural Travel News – News From Disneyland Resort, Los Cabos, Virgin Voyages, Medellin, National Museum of American Jewish History and more
News Briefs:
- Disneyland Resort Celebrates Lunar New Year with a Touch of Disney Magic
- Ten New Experiences in Los Cabos
- Virgin Voyages Sets Out To Rival Food Scene Of World Famous Cities
- Medellin Continues Evolving as an Attractive Metropolis with Steady Tourism Growth from North American Travelers in 2018
- Winter Events at the National Museum of American Jewish History
- Philadelphia’s Sensory-Friendly Attractions & Performances
- Visitphilly.com Launches Accessibility Page
- Robin Hood Leads the Way for Two New Themed, Guided Tours of Nottingham
- TAP Air Portugal Adds NYC-Based Portuguese-American Chef George Mendes To Its Michelin-Star Winning “Taste the Stars” Culinary Team
- El Salvador National Pupusas Day
- New York’s SPYSCAPE Experience Now In Spanish!
Multicultural Travel News – News From American Museum of Natural History, Oklahoma City and more
News Briefs:
- American Museum of Natural History Appoints Renowned Nuu-chah-nulth Artist and Cultural Historian Haa’yuups to Play Key Role in Reinterpretation of Historic Northwest Coast Hall
- Oklahoma City Tourism is Making Strides in LGBT Tourism
- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Launches “Hello Taste Thailand” Guidebook to Inspire Foodies to Experience Gastronomic Tourism in Thailand
- Greater Fort Lauderdale Expands Multicultural Tourism with Multimillion-Dollar Tennis Training Facility and Museum
- Discover Puerto Rico with Help from a Local Friend
Multicultural Travel News – News From Charleston, Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, South Dakota, Barbados, San Antonio and more
News Briefs:
- Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen’s Cenote Spa Wins 2018 World Luxury Spa Award; Design Inspired by Mayan Culture
- Native Americans’ Day & Black Hills Powwow
- Puerto Vallarta’s Historic Center Declared a Cultural Heritage of the State of Jalisco
- 2018 Barbados Food and Rum Festival Focuses on Local Chefs and Mixologists
- 12 Hotels Helped Visitors Celebrate Mexican Independence Day Like a Local
- Interjet Unveils First Ad Campaign in U.S. and Canada “Inspiration to Travel”
- San Antonio Celebrates Dia de los Muertos Like No Other City in the U.S.
- Puerto Vallarta Welcomes 9 Michelin Chefs For Vallarta Gastronomica
- Charleston Heritage Federation Fall 2018 Events
Multicultural Travel News 